Decorating for the holidays can be the “best of times and the worst of times” – it’s so fun to bring the magic of the season into our daily décor, but it can also be a bit intimidating to pull off a fresh look that is festive and stylish. If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed by the thought of decking your halls, or you just want some fun, new ideas to try this year, here are some tips to get you started:

Pick a Theme
While I am not a fan of a “matchy” look when it comes to interior decorating, I do think it is helpful to have an overall theme when you approach your seasonal decorating so your displays are seamless and harmonious.

Your theme may be based around a holiday color scheme, like ice blue, silver and gold, or apple green and black. It may be inspired by a favorite holiday icon, like Santa, nutcrackers or snowmen. Or, it may be a treasured family heirloom, like your ancestor’s menorah or crèche. You may draw your look from nature, showcasing found objects like pinecones, winter greens and nuts. Or you may want to celebrate a favorite country or region’s traditions through your holiday décor.

Whatever the genesis of your muse, find ways to sprinkle your theme throughout your holiday décor. One hint: You don’t want your theme to be so overblown that guests can identify it as soon as they walk through the door. Instead, you want to weave it, very subtly, throughout the layers of your existing decor.

Dress Up Your Door
Putting up an elaborate exterior display can be time consuming and expensive. So if you’re short on time and cash this year, just focus on making a statement on your front door. While I’ve done all kinds of quirky things to my front door in the past, like creating displays with dishes, paintings and mirrors, last year I went with a very stately, traditional look. I hung a gold metallic wreath from my door knocker, then brightened it up by attaching a long-needled evergreen pick, complete with pinecones and red berries, to the wreath’s bottom and left side. For a finishing touch, I secured a large, gold Christmas tree ornament in the wreath’s center.

The sky is the limit when it comes to fabulous holiday wreaths. You can chose between traditional circles made of fresh greens to square wreaths made of funky metallic balls, and everything in between. We have some fabulous faux evergreen wreaths at Nell Hill’s this year. One is festooned with green apples and screams to be hung from a black and white ribbon. Another is brightened by dozens of multi-colored balls. Happy and playful, this special wreath radiates the joy of the season. It’s available at Nell Hill’s Online, so check it out!

Spark Up Key Spots
There was a time when we all believed that we had to put out every single holiday decoration we owned in order to make our homes fun and festive for the holidays. But today’s look is much more edited, focused on a few carefully constructed but understated displays in key spots. I’m embracing this new trend toward simplicity in most of my holiday décor this year, but there are a few spots, like my dining room table, where I still have to indulge my inner child by creating a look that’s over the top.

One way to bring the holidays into your home is to simply weave a few seasonal decorations into your existing displays. For instance, instead of completely remaking your mantel, just tuck a few evergreen picks around the pieces you have displayed there. Then drape a bit of evergreen garland over the artwork above your mantel.

As an alternative to decking your entire banister with garlands, just dress up your newel post with a burst of beautiful greenery and ribbons. If you don’t have kids or pets that thunder down the stairway every day, add in some glass ornaments or a lantern holding a battery operated candle. Battery operated candles are one of my favorite tools for holiday decorating, and you can find them at my stores or on Nell Hill’s Online.

Another simple but effective way to spark up your home for the holidays is to dress up the chandeliers in your dining room, foyer or kitchen. Just twist in lazy, haphazard loops of honeysuckle vine and evergreen garland, then wire in a few interesting picks and ornaments, and you have a show stealer that didn’t take long to create.

Don’t have time to do an elaborate look in your dining room? Invest in a killer piece you can use as a centerpiece year round, like an English footbath. Then during the holiday season, fill it with tree balls, pinecones misted with gold, silver or glitter spray paint, or seasonal fruits like oranges or pomegranates.

For more holiday decorating inspiration and how-tos, visit Nell Hill’s in Atchison and Briarcliff, shop at Nell Hill’s Online, and check out my Facebook page, which is always chock-full of decorating tips and techniques.